Cybercriminals with connections to Iran have issued threats to publish a substantial collection of electronic communications they claim to have obtained from President Donald Trump's closest confidants, including long-time political adviser Roger Stone and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
The cyber intrusion group that targeted the president's campaign operation during 2024 has asserted possession of approximately 100 gigabytes worth of electronic correspondence that could potentially be disclosed, according to Reuters' Monday reporting. Operating under the alias "Robert," these digital attackers have declined to reveal specifics regarding the correspondence contents or provide timelines for any potential publication, the news organization reported.
This latest intimidation emerges during heightened US-Iran tensions following Trump's authorization of American military strikes against the country's nuclear installations in June. Trump had declared the attacks resulted in "total obliteration" of the facilities, though the United Nations nuclear monitoring agency chief stated Sunday that the assaults failed to eliminate Tehran's nuclear capabilities, noting the country could resume uranium enrichment "in a matter of months."
Newsweek confirmed that this same collective had previously distributed certain electronic messages during the period leading up to the US presidential election last year. Through digital conversations with Reuters, the group indicated they had also acquired electronic communications from accounts belonging to Trump legal representative Lindsey Halligan and adult entertainment performer Stormy Daniels, who reportedly received $130,000 for executing a confidentiality agreement concerning an alleged relationship with Trump.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) declared late Monday that a "hostile foreign adversary is threatening to illegally exploit purportedly stolen and unverified material in an effort to distract, discredit, and divide." The White House and Iran's United Nations mission have been contacted by Newsweek via electronic correspondence for their responses.
This revelation underscores Washington's continued struggles with international interference directed at the executive branch. During September proceedings, the US Justice Department under the Biden administration formally charged three Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps members with orchestrating a data breach that failed to influence the presidential contest. The cyber collective remained silent regarding these accusations, while Tehran has consistently rejected any involvement in digital espionage activities.
CISA representative Marci McCarthy characterized the digital intrusion as a "calculated smear campaign" designed to harm the president. FBI Director Kash Patel issued a warning through Reuters, stating: "Anyone associated with any kind of breach of national security will be fully investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Reuters verified portions of material from the earlier disclosure, which surfaced before the presidential election. The documentation, containing electronic messages from various accounts including Wiles', was distributed to media professionals. One electronic communication reportedly outlined financial arrangements between Trump and legal counsel representing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for health secretary. Additional correspondence addressed settlement discussions with Daniels, according to the news organization.
Reuters reported that the cyber attackers claimed they had no plans to release material after Trump's election to his second White House term. However, their position shifted following Trump's intervention in the intensifying Iran-Israel conflict after 12 days of armed confrontations. The group told Reuters they wanted the news agency to "broadcast this matter."
